June 2008

When a pair of ultra-distance backpackers set out to complete the first 5,600-mile roundtrip of the country’s toughest trail, we knew it’d be a slow, epic race. The only thing we didn’t expect: the cutthroat competition.

The perfect vacation awaits: We’ve fine-tuned 7 days of fast-and-light adventure, from bagging peaks only the locals know to camping with moose in the park’s wild interior. Grab a camera—you’ve never seen the Tetons like this.

The revolution is here: Digital tools are changing the way backpackers plan, share, and even experience trips. In this special guide to the latest outdoor technology, we’ll teach you how to preview a route in 3D, create a Google Earth flyover, sync your photos to a map, and wow your friends with Web-worthy slideshows and video.